Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 58

मन्दरगिरिवर्णनम् — Description of Mount Mandara as Śiva’s Residence

Tapas-abode

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तो महादेव्या वामदेवः स्मयन्निव । न तां निर्बंधयामास देवकार्यचिकीर्षया

Transliteration

evamukto mahādevyā vāmadevaḥ smayanniva | na tāṃ nirbaṃdhayāmāsa devakāryacikīrṣayā

Translation

Ainsi interpellé par Mahādevī, Vāmadeva—comme avec un léger sourire—ne la pressa pas davantage, car il voulait accomplir le dessein divin.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (thus)

• उक्तः: addressed/spoken to
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता; predicate adjective of ‘वामदेवः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उक्त (कृदन्त; √वच् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-कृदन्त (having been spoken to/addressed)

• महादेव्या: by Mahādevī
• महादेव्या: Karana (करण/by)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्तृ-करणभावे ‘by Mahādevī’

• वामदेवः: Vāmadeva
• वामदेवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्मयन्: smiling
• स्मयन्: Karta (कर्ता; concomitant action of subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मयत् (कृदन्त; √स्मि/स्मय् धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इव: as if
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक अव्यय (comparative particle: as if)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of ‘निर्बन्धयामास’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• निर्बन्धयामास: pressed/insisted
• निर्बन्धयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्-√बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘he insisted/pressed’

• देवकार्यचिकीर्षया: out of desire to accomplish the gods’ task
• देवकार्यचिकीर्षया: Hetu (हेतु/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-कार्य-चिकीर्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: देवस्य कार्यम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + चिकीर्षा (इच्छा/कृतुमिच्छा; desiderative noun) → तत्पुरुष-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; हेतौ तृतीया (instrumental of cause)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana account to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vāmadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: No Jyotirliṅga; the verse depicts Vāmadeva’s strategic non-interference to allow the divine plan (devakārya) to unfold—typical Purāṇic providence framing.

Significance: Models trust in īśvara-saṅkalpa: the Lord’s gentle smile and restraint indicate hidden grace guiding events toward auspicious ends.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Mahadevi
• Vamadeva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It highlights Śiva’s compassionate sovereignty: even when challenged or questioned, he acts without insistence or ego, guided by devakārya—an inner divine purpose aligned with dharma and liberation.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Vāmadeva represents Saguna Śiva’s accessible, gracious disposition—smiling, patient, and purposeful—qualities devotees contemplate in Linga worship as the merciful Lord who works for the good of beings and the cosmic order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is calm japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a gentle, non-reactive mind—imitating Śiva’s restraint—optionally with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as supports for steadiness and devotion.